THE.STORY AND WORK 


OF THE 


Woman's Union Missionary Society 


Of America for Heathen Lands. 


ORGANIZED INCORPORATED 
NOVEMBER, 1860. FEBRUARY I, 1861. 


Forming Days. 


Lookinc back to the forming days of this Society, and noting 
the remarkable results which followed its establishment, we are 
reminded of a thought most strikingly expressed in the writings 
of the late Dr. Arnot of Scotland: “To every true Christian 
these two things may be said: jfrs¢, you have need of Christ ; 
second, Christ has need of you.” “He saves you; you serve 
Him.” : 

Can it be that an hour came when He who had done so much 
to enrich the hearts, minds, and lives of American women 
needed their help to do for Him and His cause a special work in 
heathen lands, which man could not do, but which woman 
could do, and that not by stepping out of her own sphere, but 
by the exercise of those characteristic elements of her nature 
which in themselves are natural, refined, womanly, and in har- 
mony with the principles and spirit of the beneficent and loving 
religion of Jesus Christ ? 

We must believe that such an hour came, and that in the 
progress of foreign missions an actual need arose for a special 
form of service——the service of woman. 


™ 


2 The Woman's Union Missionary Soctety. 


WHAT WAS THIS NEED? 


It is certainly true that less than twenty-five years ago, an 
era dawned in Eastern lands, particularly upon India, which 
resulted in a sudden demand for a class of educated Christian 
women who, free from family or household cares, could engage, 
at once, in a new branch of foreign missionary work, styled 
“ ZENANA-TEACHING,” 

The very word “zENANA”’ was at that time so strange to 
American ears and thoughts, that few could define its appro- 
priate use. And no wonder, for the zenanas of India and their 
inmates had been for centuries jealously guarded from the 
sight and knowledge of foreigners. The meaning of the word 
is literally, “‘ the place for women,” from the Persian word “ zen”’ 
a woman, and “an” a place. } 

A native house has two divisions, the outer and inner apart- 
ments; to the inner apartments, or the zenana, are consigned 
the mothers, wives, and daughters of a Bengal household. 

“ZENANA-TEACHING ” must therefore be such instruction as 
could be carried to these homes or households, by an educated 
woman, with the aid, at first, of a native school-girl as helper 
and interpreter. 


CONDITION OF WOMEN IN INDIA. 


Three fourths of the women in India live thus immured for 
life in zenanas. | 

According to the sacred Vedas women have no souls apart 
from the husband ; a natural inference is: ‘“‘ Why, then, should 
they be taught to think or reason; to read, sew, or in any 
manner improve their natural or mental powers? Such in- 
struction would but tend to make them restless and unhappy 
with their narrow lives,” 


DAY-DAWN. 


But lo! after centuries of unmitigated darkness, a ray of 
light at last penetrated even the dark zenanas of India. It 
entered first, perhaps, in whispered rumors of what was being 
done by favored women in that “ outside world ” which zenana 


The Woman’s Union Missionary Society. 3 


ladies must not see with their own eyes, or only by chance 
glimpses, clandestinely caught through screens, veils, or un- 
guarded apertures. Thus the zenana ladies learned that 
“other women” led useful, busy, happy lives. This one ray 
of light was small, but it made their own darkness visible ! 

Another element was working silently : the higher classes of 
native gentlemen and their sons were fast becoming cultivated 
men of the world, often studying at the best English and Euro- 
pean colleges and universities. They naturally began to desire » 
some degree of education for their wives and daughters, who 
had so long been denied instruction, and compelled to lead 
lives of vacuity and childish frivolity. Thus the younger and 
better class of native gentlemen craved a change in the condi- 
tion of women, but knew not how it could be brought about. 
Men could be taught by men ; the women could not be led out 
of darkness except by women. 

What first opened the zenanas to Christian influence it 
might be difficult to decide. The desire on the part of women 
to receive instruction in ornamental needle-work ; the fact that 
the native young men demanded some form of cultivation when 
negotiating for their future wives ; above all, the breath of the 
Holy Spirit, which “ bloweth where it listeth,” were influences 
powerfully tending to break down the barriers and bring relief 
to the inmates of zenanas. 

When, at last, it was found that one and another of the old 
and influential families of India had actually permitted the 
visits of English-speaking lady teachers, a secret desire arose 
on every side fora share in like instruction. 

The door so long closed was unmistakably opening ; but now 
arose another question : 


WHO SHALL ENTER IN? 


The wives of missionaries, already overworked, could not go 
about in an enervating climate, visiting and teaching in scat- 
tered private houses. It was necessary that a class of single 
ladies, suitably qualified, should give themselves to this new 
and important work, 


4 The Woman's Union Misstonary Soctety. 


It was in view of this need, and in response to the voice and 
call of Providence, that this ““Woman’s Union Missionary 
Society ’’ sprang into existence more than twenty years ago— 
the first American Society to enter upon the distinctive type of 
foreign mission service which was 


A MISSION OF WOMAN FOR WOMAN. 


This was the germ of thought, expressed in these very words, 
that, in 1860, led Mrs. T. C. Doremus and other ladies of New 
York and Brooklyn, Boston and Philadelphia, to combine 
woman’s influence and means to send out and support teachers 
to the women of Eastern lands. 

This step was the more necessary, as at that time there was 
no Missionary Board in America willing to adopt the suggestion 
of organizing women’s foreign mission work, by sending out a 
class of single ladies who should labor peculiarly as Bible- 
readers and zenana-teachers. 


ORGANIZATION. 


& 


The title chosen for this new Society sufficiently expressed 
its spirit and aim. It was a union of Christain women, bound 
together by a common desire to work for the moral elevation 
of the unenlightened women and girls of heathen lands. The 
Home work was committed to officers representing six denomi- 
nations. These officers were unsalaried, voluntarily giving 
their time, talents, and personal influence to the furtherance of 
this cause. ‘The funds needed to send out teachers and carry 
on the foreign work were at first provided for by a certain num- 
ber of ‘ CoLLEcToRS,” who became each responsible for an 
annual sum, not less than $20. In this simple way a basis was 
established on which future plans could safely be built. “‘ Mis- 
SION-BANDs”’ for the young rapidly sprang up in seminaries, 
day-, and Sabbath-schools ; these bands were then and still are a 
strong, beautiful, and peculiar feature of this Society’s Home 
work. 

Personal influence and the sense of moral obligation in its 
members have been the foundation-stones on which this Society 


The Woman's Unton Missionary Society. 5 


has sought to build. It has never relied upon salaried officers 
or agents ; the loving hearts of Christian women have been its 
agents. 

INFLUENCE OF THIS WORK AT HOME, 


That the origin of this Society was both wise and timely has 
been proved not alone by its results in heathen lands, but also 
by its effect upon all the missionary associations of America. 
Whereas, prior to its formation, the plan of woman’s distinctive 
work in heathen lands was not regarded by them as feasible or 
practical, there is now not one denominational Board in our 
country that does not recognize and adopt in some form “ Wo- 
man’s work.” 

There have been started since the formation of this Union 
Society in 1860, sixteen denominational missionary organiza- 
tions in America, each one bearing in its title the words 
‘“'Woman’s Mission.” 

In 1881, when this Union Society passed its 21st birthday, 
the occasion was observed by a Conference in New York City 
continuing through two days, with marked interest at the time, 
and followed by quickening influence throughout the circle 
abroad ; it is now, therefore, no longer az experiment. Its or- 
ganization and forms have been practically tested by time and 
experience ; the facts and statistics we give will declare how that 
test has been borne. 


IN FOREIGN LANDS. 


The work of this Society, begun in India, has also been con- 
ducted in other Eastern lands,—BuRMAH, JAPAN, CHINA, 
GREECE, Cyprus; while grants in aid of schools and teachers 
have been given to almost every quarter of the globe. 

In India alone, this Society now owns and occupies three 
‘““AMERICAN Mission Homes,” at Calcutta, Allahabad, and 
Cawnpore, each of which is a centre of Christian instruction, 
bringing the influence of the Word of God to bear daily upon 
thousands of pupils in zenanas and schools. 

These ‘“‘ Mission Homes ”’ are an original and peculiar feature 
of the Woman’s Union Society ; their importance and useful- 


6 The Woman's Union Misstonary Soctety. 


ness cannot be over-estimated ; as they were the common gift 
of friends and well-wishers on both sides of the sea, they must 
be held in sacred trust for one purpose only, viz.: union Chris- 
tian work, 

The habits and laws of all Eastern lands with regard to their 
women are so varied, that the form of our mission work must 
adapt itself to each particular country ; thus plans and services 
of widely different type are employed. 

To show what the range is, we give in general terms a sketch 
of this Society’s 


METHODS OF WORK. 


Zenana and household teaching for the women ; day-schools 
and Sabbath-schools for children ; orphanages for the shelter 
and training of the utterly forsaken ; hospitals, dispensaries, and 
medical service for the sick; village-teaching; visits to the 
“Ghats” or sacred bathing-places for women; visits to 
prisons for women ; all such work under the immediate care 
and supervision of Christian women and their native assistants. 
These have been for the past twenty-two years, and still are, the 
METHODS employed by this Society in heathen lands. Simple 
methods, but having grand results. 


Nftet Twenty-[wo Years. 


‘“ What has been effected ?” 

We will reply not by statistics alone, but by glimpses of serra 
scenes, which come to us through the letters of our own mission- 
aries, the testimony of other missionaries, and the reports of 
intelligent tourists, who bear willing witness to the efficiency 
of the foreign mission work carried on in the different fields 
occupied by this Union Society. 


INDIA. 


‘‘Our Home in Calcutta is occupied by fifteen lady teachers, who, with 


The Woman's Union Missionary Society. 7 


their native assistants, teach in I13 zenanas; eighteen city or suburban 
schools, numbering 793 pupils.” 


‘“At Rajpore, ten miles from the city, a work of teaching has sprung up 
under our hands, which includes twelve schools, taught by native Christians 
under our superintendence. These schools bring the religion of Jesus Christ 
into the very homes of the common people, and areedoing much to under- 
mine idolatrous influences, I lately visited one of these schools, where 105 
children were gathered in four rooms on one floor. When the lessons were 
finished, and several hymns were sung in parts with the whole school, I as- 
sure you, I stood at the door feeling as if I should be stunned by the magni- 
tude of sound that rose from those little throats. I felt quite overcome ; 
it seemed as if God’s presence was filling the house.” 


‘*As I look back over even my own twelve years of experience in India, 
I see that, although we never failed to tell the story of the Cross in every 
house we entered, the educational part was a beginning of very small things. 
There has been a very great improvement since in that direction. Then 
much time was spent in fancy work, and bright wools were needed as a de- 
coy, but now the mind is more cultivated: some fancy work is done, but 
very little of the missionaries’ time is wasted upon that. Then our knowl- 
edge of the Bengali language was so limited that the simplest reading was all 
we could teach the pupils. Now among our ladies are many who havea very 
thorough knowledge of the language, and can not only converse in a style of 
which they need not be ashamed, but are able with ease to teach grammar 
and the higher branches. We now have two courses of study: one in Ben- 
gali, the other in Hindi and Urdi. We work in all three languages, and 
some of our missionaries are good teachers and fluent speakers in all.” 


‘‘In former days our schools numbered ten or twelve, and twenty was 
considered a good school; now our schools range from thirty, fifty, seventy- 
five, and one hundred, and more. For two years past our total number of 
pupils in zenanas and schools, varying at different seasons of the year, range 
from I,000 to 1,200,” 


WIDOWS OF INDIA. 


‘* When first I visited Bama, a widow, her head was closely shaven, and 
she felt somewhat ashamed to appear before me, but now all reserve is laid 
aside, and we are very friendly. I told her I knewall about Hindu widows, 
and the many hard rules that bind them, but Jesus came to set the captive 
frees 

‘**Can I go to Him ?’ she cried. 

““* Ves, go at once ; He is willing to receive you.’ 

‘** But I have nothing to offer worth His acceptance ; can I go empty- 
handed ?’ 


8 The Woman's Union Missionary Society. 


‘**Hfe needs nothing from us; He isa King; all things are His; He 
will accept only your heart as an offering, if you present it in faith.’ 

‘It is very pleasant to see how this pupil has taken to her books ; her face 
beams all over when she gives me a new lesson; she isas proud and happy 
as any child when I tell her, ‘Bama, I am quite pleased with you.’ But, 
better than this, she takes a great interest in her Bible-lessons, and asks in- 
telligent questions that show she is considering and comparing the two re- 
ligions, hers and ours, and that she is trying to walk in the light. 

‘* Another widow, who was old and feeble, said: ‘ The Bible is the only 
place in which I find a God who /oves the creatures He has made and wants 
them to be happy, and here I get comfort.’ We believe there are many in 
these secluded homes whom the Lord knows as His own, and who will be 
known by all as such in that day when He makes up His jewels. 

‘* As I give the Bible-lesson in one house a very aged woman approaches 
with bowed head and faltering steps. I keep on reading: ‘ Blessed are the 
poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven ; blessed are they that 
mourn, for they shall be comforted ; blessed are the meek, for they shall in- 
herit the earth,’—and two large tear-drops slowly roll down my hearer’s 
withered cheeks. ‘ Ah, that is the right thing! Ah, that is the true com- 
fort! There is a pleasant taste to those words! Read on, lady.’ When at 
last I close my Bible, the poor woman cries: ‘ Yes, that is a// for you ; you 
were born under a lucky planet ; but for us there is nothing but sorrow and 
misery ; since my husband and little child died I have done nothing but 
weep and wail for them.’ I tell her of the life beyond the grave, of the 
Saviour who came down from Heaven that we might be made partakers of 
that life, and she listens eagerly, sighing deeply the while and saying: ‘ All, 
all for them ; nothing for us but pain and misery, death and a thousand 
births, till we become entirely absorbed in Brahma.’ I talk with her a long 
time, and we pray continually for her conversion—may the Lord be pleased 
to reveal Himself to her!” 


A SCHOOL IN INDIA, 


‘‘From the recent return of an educational census, it was found that 
there were one thousand more girls than boys under Christian training and 
influence, notwithstanding Dr. Duff’s two large colleges well filled with 
Scotch professors, the London Missionary College, with nearly nine hundred 
boys, and all the other amaller schools—but the little zenana schools for 
girls outnumbered them all. Many can remember when scarcely a girl was 
taught among the upper classes, and but few of the lower, and these very 
imperfectly. My friends, think not that money given to zenana missions 
yields a poor return. The zenana mission is a great power in this land, and 
we believe it is the same in others. Often the fathers and brothers of the 
girls come and look in at the door of a school. Last week, at a distribution 


The Woman's Union Missionary Society. 9 


[of prizes], a clergyman was present who asked the children many pointed 
questions regarding their knowledge of the Saviour and their faith in Him 
and His power to take away sins, all of which they answered very readily 
and intelligently. I saw the close attention of the Babus at the door. I 
thought some of those children will surely be taken from us; but, on the 
contrary, they seemed proud that the children acquitted themselves so well, 
and greatly pleased that we loved their little ones. We look upon this as a 
significant and hopeful fact. A wide door is indeed opened to us, and we 
use every agency in our power to win the hearts of these children in their 
tender years for the Lord’s kingdom, Of all their studies, they love their 
Bible-lessons best, and we cannot believe that Hinduism will ever find a 
place in their affections. Our work was never so large, nor so powerful in 
the influence it exerts on the people.” 


ALLAHABAD. 


‘*Our Home at Allahabad is now occupied by sixteen lady teachers, who 
report 250 zenanas with 400 pupils; 14 schools with 230 pupils ; total 630 
under daily instruction, which is a marked increase over former years. 

‘*In going between Allahabad and Cawnpore we passed several large 
native towns, where no work was done among the women, and as the East 
Indian Railway Company granted us free passes we concluded to sow a 
few seeds by the way. Our ladies at Allahabad took the stations near that 
city, and we took four villages near Cawnpore. We could thus occupy 
many more if we had the means and workers.” 


CAWNPORE, 


‘* In our Home in Cawnpore, which has only been open five years, we 
have a family of nine lady teachers, who visit 110 zenanas with 197 pupils, 
conduct 15 schools, having 252 pupils; atotal of 449 under regular instruc- 
tion.” 

THE GHATS. 


‘One interesting feature of the Cawnpore work is the opening at the 
ghats (bathing-places) along the sacred river Ganges. One of the ghats is 
especially devoted to women, no man being allowed to enter the enclosure, 
and once behind the wall, we are, as it were, 77 ax immense zenana / Here 
we go two mornings in the week with tracts, and large, colored Bible pict- 
ures to illustrate Bible truths, and taking up our stand in one of the niches 
near the entrance, sing and talk to the crowds which gather around. Some 
women who become interested find out the regular visiting days and make 
arrangements to meet us, and some invite us to their homes to teach them, 
Many belong to such bigoted families that the older members will not allow 
us to enter their doors; but here at the ghats we have the opportunity of tell- 
ing of the love of Christ to those who never could hear of it, even in their 


10 The Woman's Union Missionary Soctety. 


own homes. Some of these women go to the Ganges feeling the burden of 
sin, and hoping to wash it away in the sacred stream.” 


PRISONERS. 


‘‘T have at times written to you of our ‘ zenana,’ ‘school,’ and ‘ ghat- 
work’; each has its own peculiar interest. 

‘¢ And now I am able to tell you that we have still another opening, and 
that is among the women in the jail at Cawnpore. Dr. C , a good, 
Christian, English gentleman, who is the superior officer there, consented to 
let me go inside and teach the women. I find there are many women con- 
demned to prison for infanticide ! and when one thinks of the dreadful lives 
these little ones are to grow up to, I don’t think it any wonder some of the 
mothers wish to prevent it. Many of the women inside this prison have 
good faces ; and as they have become separated from their own friends, I 
have great hopes ofthem. ‘They have already learned some of our new 
hymns which have the good news of the Gospel embedded in them.” 





MAGIC-LANTERN _ TEACHING. 


‘¢ T have been exhibiting a magic-lantern in the zenanas where I can get 
a large gathering. The pictures are mainly of Bible scenes, and are large 
and brilliantly colored.” 


SIGNS OF THE TIMES. 


‘‘Wecan note great changes in the tone of Hindu modes of thought, 
brought about by our work. Respect for woman is growing ; many of the 
rigid laws for widows lie a dead letter. All Hindu society is being per- 
meated with a power that in time must makean entire revolution in the land. 
One very hopeful feature consists in the fact that during the early years of 
the Mission, although attempts were made, it was impossible to establish 
Sunday-schools. Now we have two flourishing ones, and a third has been 
commenced, and they might be infinitely multiplied had we ladies to teach 
them. My strong assurance is that India will be given to Christ. God’s 
mighty movements in the natural world are slow; so in the moral and 
spiritual. The heart of this great nation is being prepared, and in His own 
good time the blessing for which we work and pray and wait in faith will be 
poured out abundantly. In that day, you who have given your mite will 
rejoice with us in seeing India a ripe, golden sheaf gathered into the garner 
of the Lord.” 


We would call attention to the two following incidents, 
which, though seemingly so simple in themselves, are of great 
weight in connection with the social and religious customs of 
India. 


The Woman's Union Missionary Soctety. Il 


We give them as related by two of our teachers ; 


‘‘A Hindu, having an occasion to speak to me, came just now to the 
veranda, carrying in his arms his little daughter, a bright-faced little girl, 
on perfectly good terms with her father, her arms around his neck, and her 
merry face pressed close to his. A boy in this position would have excited 
no wonder in my mind, but I could not but let my thoughts go back only a 
short time ago, when such a sight could not have been seen in India ; a sight 
so common in my own land as to pass unnoticed, but seen here, becomes 
one of the ‘signs of the times.’”’ 


“Tam about to lose the first girl in one of my schools. She is eleven years 
old, and very tall, and her father is afraid he will be put out of caste if she 
is not married at once. He is negotiating for a young student in one of the 
government colleges, and as soon as the arrangements are completed the 
child will be married. She was engaged a few months ago to a man her 
parents knew very little about. The preparations were going on, and the 
child was distressed at the thought of leaving school, One morning she 
came in crying, and told me her wedding-day was fixed, and she would not 
be allowed to come but once more. I told her I could not lose sight of her, 
and would teach her at home. The following day the father invited the 
bridegroom to his house, and called the child to see, for the first time, the 
man who had been chosen for her husband. She looked up at him only 
once ; that was enough, she did not care to see him again! When the 
youth took his leave, the father sent for his daughter, whose unhappy face 
pleaded more powerfully for compassion than words could have done, and 
the old man’s heart was touchcd. ‘Geeree,’ he said, ‘do you think you 
could like that man?’ ‘Oh, father!’ she cried, ‘how could I live my life 
with sucha man! He looked so low and uneducated I could never be 
happy with him.’ Then said the father: ‘ Do not distress yourself, I will 
not force you to marry him, I will look for a better man.’ I think this will 
surprise you as much as it did us. We have never heard any thing lke tt. 
That a Hindu father should break off an engagement because his daughter 
did not approve of the young man chosen, is an unheard of event! In 
most cases the bride does not see the bridegroom until the marriage cere- 
mony begins, and then, very often, she is too shy to look at him.” 


CHINA. 


Our work in this country commenced at Peking, in 1869, with 
three missionaries, and has at times been reinforced by six 
ladies. One of the strongest features of this work was thecon- 
version of the pupils and persons employed in the Home. The 
day-school and boarding-school each averaged about 25 pupils. 


12 The Woman's Unton Missionary Society. 


A valuable piece of property in Shanghai having reverted to 
our Society under the will of Mrs, Dr. Bridgman, long an ardent 
Episcopal missionary in China, it was decided to remove our 
work to SHANGHAI and occupy the BRIDGMAN Home asa girls’ 
school. Accordingly, our ladies left Peking in 1882, and es- 
tablished themselves in Shanghai. Two events have signally 
marked the opening of this new Home. One was the voluntary 
offering of two years of service on the part of our former mission- 
ary, Mrs. PRuyNn, as her contribution to our Memorial Year. 
It was an act of peculiar self-sacrifice to accept China, instead 
of Japan, where she once spent four years of blessed toil. A 
medical missionary is to found the “ Margaret Williamson 
Memorial Hospital”’ in Shanghai; and we commend that Mis- 
sion anew to the consideration of those who appreciate this 
form of labor. 


JAPAN. 


All our letters from this Eastern land are full of encourage- 
ment, whether they tell of the regular routine at the Home in 
Yokohama, or of the way-side teaching by which, every summer, 
so much good seed is scattered. The Mission Home has 
exerted great influence in circles not directly connected with 
missionary work among the natives. By its prayer-meetings, the 
Union church,—one outgrowth of our Mission,—and hospital 
and temperance work, attracting many sailors, among others, 
within reach of Christian influence, it has proved, because un- 
denominational, a common centre from which it has pleased 
God to send forth radiating streams of light and healing. 

‘Here in Yokohama we have a Mission Home, also a separate build- 
ing called the Children’s House. Our work in Japan commenced in 1871, 
at a critical time—‘‘a set time,” as we love to term it, set by the Lord Him- 
self. So wonderful have been the changes we have witnessed in Japan 


during the past ten years that the experience can never be repeated in the 
history of Missions.” 


‘*TIn our own school, a class of lovely native Christian girls have been 
educated and trained as teachers who would well bear comparison with any 
of more favored lands. At our last school examination we had new cause 
for encouragement and gratitude ; if I were to attempt, / could not do justice 


The Woman’s Union Missionary Society. IY i 


to the recitations on this occasion, Prominent among them were those in 
Bible study and Mcllvaine’s ‘ Evidence of Christianity.” These were taken 
up from topics distributed without previous arrangement, and recited some- 
times in words of her own, sometimes from memorized paragraphs, by each 
girl in turn, as her subject was denoted on the paper she held. I think if 
the learned and saintly Bishop McIlvaine could have heard his arguments for 
the religion of Jesus Christ upon the lips of these Japanese girls, but for the 
mercy of God, accustomed to vain repetitions in religious things before their 
senseless shrined images, he would have cried out with the Psalmist of old: 
Not untous, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory !”’ 


‘‘ We have now a large Mission Sunday-school class held in the school- 
house immediately after dinner. Our Home Sunday-school coming directly 
after, sometimes has as many as 150 scholars.”’ 


CHRISTMAS SCENES. 


‘* We had a busy time preparing a Christmas festival for our scholars, 250 
in all, but the trouble was more than compensated in the joy and pleasure it 
gaye to the children, and in appreciating Christmas the children are learning 
more of Christ. The great festival of Christendom is already becoming a 
joyous and welcome time among those once subject only to heathen rites 
and heathenish festivals.” 


IN THE VILLAGES DURING THE SUMMER. 


‘“We went every week to Ashinoyu, a celebrated medicinal spring to 
which invalids of all classes and conditions resort during the summer, and 
where one sees diseases in their most appalling forms. Could the fountains 
at Bethesda have presented sadder and more varied spectacles of human 
suffering and misery? Ah, just such as they, poor, sick, suffering, dying 
ones, need the Great Physician of whom we went to tell them ! 

‘* We sat down in a room at the hotel and invited all who wished to hear 
of One who has power to heal both soul and body with His wonderful and 
unfailing balms of love, mercy, and blessing, to come and listen to God's 
Holy Word. The attendance averaged thirty-five or forty persons. They 
listened with rapt attention as God’s messenger proclaimed peace and par- 
don, through the blood of Jesus, to penitent and believing sinners. We 
always distributed books and tracts among those who wished them. We 
feel sure that the sympathizing Jesus has touched some of these souls perish- 
ing with the leprosy of sin, and made them whole.”’ 


A native assistant writes of her own village teaching : | 


‘* My Sunday meeting is very successful. I have now every time twenty 
or more women. Some pray in the meeting. These are all believers, 
though some have not been baptized yet. About a month ago these women 


14 The Woman's Union Missionary Soctety. 


had a social meeting at a place called Kanagawa, the village next to Yoko- 
hama. They asked our teacher to conduct the meeting, and she went with 
two of the girls. The women spoke of their experiences before all, and it 
did much good to all of them. They told me that they wished to have such 
‘meetings once in three months. This may seem to youa very trifling thing, 
but it is not so here tous. I think that was the first social meeting ever held 
by women in Japan.” 
OUTSIDE WORK. 


‘““A crowd of people always gather at one place, and when it is mild 
weather the doors are open, and being in a very central location, many who 
are passing by pause to listen. Thus is the good seed sown by the wayside, 
which God can ripen and perfect. 

‘* We are constantly receiving invitations to visit new villages, and we go 
whenever we can, always regretting our want of time to accept every such 
call. 

‘* Arriving at six o’clock at a little Japanese village, with one street run- 
ning through the centre, we went to the hotel and engaged lodgings. On 
entering we were requested to remove our shoes, and were conducted up 
stairs (or ladder) and shown into a good-sized room, containing not an article 
of furniture except the clean straw matting on the floor. Seating ourselves 
on this, which was the only thing to do under the circumstances, we ordered 
supper for our two young girls, who occupied an adjoining room, separated 
from ours by sliding paper doors. 

‘* About eight o’clock, the two rooms having been thrown into one, and 
lighted by a small cotton wick placed in a cup of grease, the people, who had 
been notified that a meeting would be held at that hour, began to assemble. 
Their swarthy faces and half-clothed forms made a strange, weird group in 
the shadowy room as they sat on the floor listening to what was said, occa- 
sionally interrupting the speakers by united expressions of assent. 

‘‘ The meeting was made interesting by prayer and singing, interspersed 
with the explanations and addresses made by Mrs. P. and the young Japan- 
ese Christians. 

‘‘ The progress of the Christian women in this field of labor fills our 
hearts with joy. The little germs of faith and love, implanted in their souls 
by the Divine Spirit, have expanded into fair sweet blossoms, whose ripened 
fruit shall crown the glorious harvest.” 


WORK IN OTHER LANDS, 


Burmah.—Between 1861 and 1876, four ladies labored in 
this country. : 

Smyrna.—From 1869 a school taught by two ladies was 
supported. 


The Woman's Union Missionary Soctety. I5 


Athens, Greece.—¥From 1871 three ladies were sent out, 
and a girls’ school supported, which gave instruction to over 
five hundred pupils. The rare success of this work attracted 
the jealous scrutiny of the Greek priests, and resulted in the 
ultimate disbanding. Two of the teachers went to Cyprus, and 
have since conducted a successful school for young ladies at 
Larnaca, 


The Society has sustained ror missionaries in 12 different 
stations, of whom 43 were sent from America and 58 were sup- 
ported on the field. 

It has sustained or aided 84 schools; has supported 174 
Bible-readers and 278 children. 

It has sent contributions to aid the work in 62 outside sta- 
tions : of which in India, 15 ; in Burmah, 6; in China, 13; in 
minuvet Mi syria. +O 57in Lurkey, 7 :1in Japan,.2 sin Africa, 
6 in Mexico, 4; in California; x ; in Paris, 1. 

The Society has received in America and disbursed, since its 
organization in 1861, including $6,000 held as reserved fund, 
$584,107.55. 

Also, it has received in foreign lands, mainly through the 
“Government Grant” in Calcutta, $80,000. Total, $664,- 


107.55. 
TESTIMONY OF OTHERS, 


Rev. J. H. Ballagh, a missionary of the Reformed Board of 
America, writes of our school in Yokohama: 


‘‘ To-day closed the spring examinations of your school, and the gradua- 
tion of three of the oldest and best pupils. All the examinations were ex- 
cellent. Your teachers certainly covered themselves with laurels to-day, in 
the exhibition of capacity to teach most thoroughly all subjects pertaining to 
a young lady’s education,—grammar, algebra, rhetoric, physiology, Script- 
ure history, ancient and modern history, and Butler’s ‘ Analogy.” Two 
pupils completely mastered the book, and evidently understood the subject 
from their answers to rigorous questions put by a large number of gentlemen 
present. All these examinations were conducted in English, and some of 
the girls’ exercises written on the spot were very remarkable. 

“With the exception of a class in Japanese beginning a course of Bible 
study, the examination was conducted entirely in English, and embraced 


16 The Woman's Unton Misstonary Society. 


the whole school. At the closing exercises, compositions were read and 
recitations given, with vocal and instrumental music.” 


Mr. Burnell, an evangelist from Chicago, gives the following 
testimony to our work in Japan during a visit paid in 1877 : 


‘‘Tt certainly is commendation to say, that I have never been in an 
American school of this character, or of any character, and witnessed what 
appears to me more true and wise relations between teachers and taught. 
My advantages of observation at home have been unusual, having travelled 
a thousand miles per month for twenty years in Christian work. To do, and 
not to over-do, to take these native girls from their little, strange, peculiar, 
and yet interesting homes, and train them wisely, to return them to that life 
again, needs a kind of wisdom that only cometh down from God out of 
Heaven. To be well-balanced, symmetrical, instructive, and devout, is not 
a small attainment under the most favorable circumstances. To be so 
wise, is especially to be commended. ‘To rule as though one ruled not, is 
the highest style of ruling. All honor to our Divine Lord and Redeemer 
for this Union work. The spirit of the 27th of Fohn is the spirit of this 
flome.”” ; 


VALUE OF UNION WORK. 


The statement has recently been put forth in a work written 
by a distinguished English statesman, and late Governor- 
General of India, who has studied the laws and religion of 
India, that the Indian people will not ultimately embrace 
Christianity in any of the numerous forms in which it is 
brought before them by European Christians. He rather 
believes they will go farther back, and adopt a form of Chris- 
tianity more nearly approaching the simplicity of the Apostolic 
church than any which now exists. This is a strong argument 
for undenominational work. 

A lady who, while travelling in India and Japan, had visited 
with our missionaries their zenanas and schools, in an impres- 
sive address at our 21st anniversary in New York, said : 


‘“‘ My reasons for not allowing this Union work to be crippled, much less - 
to die out, are: First, the extent of heathenism is so great, and its powerful 
influence so subtle, that we cannot afford to lose one organization which has 
so persistently labored to present Christianity in its purity; Second, this 
Society is the only one in their country which presents to the heathen one un- 
broken front of the unity of the Church of Christ, as before an unbelieving 


The Woman's Union Misstonary Soctety. 17 


world, and this alone carries unbounded weight in heathen Asia. Your 
Society is so organized, and has so fine a vantage-ground in heathen lands, 
that no other can, without great injury, take it out of her hands, It is not 
the Society of any church or any person, but of the united Christian army of 
believers. I believe it is GoD’s SOCIETY, a precious vine of His planting, 
and it deserves the most careful fostering and cultivation because He has 
blessed it. I long to see more efficient and abundant support given to this 
noble Union Society, that every open door leading to heathen homes may 
be entered in the MASTER’s name.” 


During the visit of Rev. N. Sheshadri of India to this 
country in 1880, in an address he heartily endorsed the 
Union element of this Society, which he declared was in 
the spirit of Christ’s church, the only one which was recog- 
nized on heathen soil, and concluded by saying emphati- 
cally: “May denominationalism never find tts way across the 
Red Sea!” The testimony of this earnest Hindu Christian 
was most encouraging to all who are laboring in this Union 
work. 


A missionary writes : 


‘* My first journey to China consumed four months ; my second, thirty 
days. What does it mean? Was it only to fill the coffers of our merchants 
with treasure and our houses with luxuries that such wonderful facilities are 
now given? No; that highway was made for the King’s messengers to 
carry His Word to dark-browed children. God gives grand wages, too, to 
the carriers of His message. It is a blessed thing to be called to this service. 

“The noblest human teacher ever given to a people was given to the Chi- 
nese in their Confucius. But we offer them the Gospel of the Son of God. 
And so we come to this blessed Union work, whose whole expression is love 
to the Lord Jesus Christ and love to the souls He died for. There is here 
no exponent of church pride. You do not ask, are you a Presbyterian ? or 
a Baptist? or an Episcopalian ? before you consent to send out your mis- 
sionaries. So that their hearts were full of love and they had full equipment 
for the mission work, you sent them all out, and at least in this case it may 
be said: ‘ See how these Christians love one another.’ 

“‘ The reception of ‘this foreign Jesus-word,’ as they call it, costs much 
to the heathen. I could tell you of some of them who have lost every cent 
they possessed because they embraced the Gospel, of others cut savagely by 
the lash, of others pining in prison, yet holding fast to their faith, As Isaw 
the working of your Union Missions in various cities, and especially in 
Allahabad and Calcutta, I rejoiced over the good in progress and heartily 
bade you ‘ God-speed.’”’ 


18 The Woman's Union Missionary Society. 


VOICES OF APPEAL FROM OUR OWN MISSIONARIES. 


From China.—“T am thankful that Iam permitted to be a door-keeper 
in this house of the Lord. Pray that I may be given strength to open the 
. door wide and point many the way to Jesus the Saviour.” 


‘‘How thankful Iam that the work of converting souls is the Lorp’s 
and not ours! He sent us into all the world to preach and teach the Gos- 
pel. We follow His command and leave the result to Him. He will help 
us while we are studying the language and preparing ourselves for future 
usefulness, and he can use us for His GLory.” 

‘* The diversities of gifts have not ceased. One great need felt through- 
out the length and breadth of the land is of more laborers in every 
department, there is so much to be done now. If Christian men and women 
would give themselves and their substance to do it! If every post was 
manned the enemy would have no chance at all. Oh, that the Church saw 
her duty and her opportunity !” 


From Cawnpore.—‘‘ 1 wonder if the people at home realize what there 
is out here ; how many there are who do not know, who cannot love because 
they do not know, our blessed Saviour, whom to know is life and the only 
life? I am sure they do not, or they would come themselves or send 
others.” 


“When I sit teaching, just hearing them spell in their readers, then 
giving them a Bible-lesson in the simplest language I can use, I feel my 
work is indeed the greatest and the best a woman could desire,—/#o put a 
little sunshine into these ignorant lives.” 


From Calcutta,—‘‘ Light is slowly dawning upon India; the windows 
of the East are gradually opening toward JERUSALEM THE GOLDEN, and 
our eyes are gladdened by many a cheering vision of the coming harvest 
season when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth.” 


We have now given a brief history of this Society ; the need 
that brought it into being; its home organization; its work 
for over twenty-two years in foreign lands. The Union ele- 
ment so conspicuous in its foundation has never been broken, 
even though many “ Denominational Woman’s Boards” have 
since been created, each asking from the members of its own 
specific faith their hearty co-operation. 

Is it not, then, a matter over which Christians of all names 
may rejoice and give thanks, that a missionary association 
consisting of members from ezgf¢ different denominations has 


The Woman's Union Misstonary Soctety. 19 


been able to unite in plans for the spread of the religion of 
Jesus Christ, meeting monthly for over twenty-two years with- 
out having spent one hour on the subject of their denomina- 
tional differences ? 

If it be true that this first “ woman’s mission to woman” 
owed its inspiration to the Voice of the Lord calling for a 
special service (and who can doubt it ?), then to whom should 
its claims be dear and sacred? Certainly to everyone who 
counts herself one of those whom the Lord has saved; to 
every woman who, above and beyond all dividing lines of 
faith and creed, loves best to write herself “a follower of the 
Lord.” 

There is not to-day one Christian woman in our land, how- 
ever ardently she may love and serve her own “Board of 
Missions,” but is “a debtor” to this Union Society in that it 
solved a difficult problem in foreign mission service, and 
opened a new and direct way from the Christian heart of 
womanhood in America to the dark and weary woman’s heart 
of heathendom. 

It is good at times to feel that we belong to the Church 
Universal ; to reach out a hand that holds an offering of love 
“for Christ only.” We therefore cordially invite our Christian 
sisters of every name to join with us in carrying forward this 
undenominational mission of WOMAN to WOMAN. 


OFFICERS OF THE WOMAN’S UNION MISSIONARY 
SOCIETY. 





PRESIDENT—Mrs. Jacob Le Roy. 


VICE-PRESIDENTS : 


NEW YORK. AMHERST, MASS. 
Mrs. Loring Andrews, Mrs. L. P. Hickok. 
Mrs. William Ransom, NORWICH, CONN. 
Mrs. Henry Johnson. Mrs. J. D. Herr. 
BROOKLYN. 


MORRISTOWN, N. J. 


Mrs. R. L. Wyckoff, Mrs. H. A. Buttolph. 


Mrs. S. B. Chittenden, 





Mrs. Horace Waters. PRINCETON, N. J. 
TOMKINSVILLE, S. I. Mrs. Charles Olden. 
Mrs. Wm. Walton Clark. HIGHLANDS, N, J. 
PHILADELPHIA, PA. Mrs, R. R. Proudfit. 
Mrs. G. D. Boardman, CHICAGO, ILL. 
Mrs. John Patton. Mrs. O. F. Avery. 
ALBANY, N. Y. ROCKFORD, ILL. 
Mrs. S. Pruyn. Mrs. Ralph Emerson. 
SYRACUSE, N. Y. RUTLAND, VT. 
Mrs. R. Townsend. Mrs. Newton Kellogg. 
PLATTSBURG, N. Y. LOUISVILLE, KY. 
Mrs. M. K, Platt. * Mrs. John Miller. 
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY AND EDITOR OF THE “ MISSION- 
ARY LINK,” 
Miss S. D. Doremus, 47 East 21st Street. 
‘TREASURER, 


J. E. Johnson: Brown Bros. & Co., 59 Wall Street. 
Mrs, J. E. Johnson, Assistant Treasurer, 41 Bible House, N. Y. 


OFFICERS OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRANCH: 
PRESIDENT—Mrs, Isaac Williams ; TREASURER—Mrs. C. B. Keen ; 
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY—Mrs. R. C. Matlock, 1225 Chestnut Street. 
Organ of the Woman’s Union Missionary Society, 

PAE MISSIONARY “LINK 
issued every two months. 


All letters and donations in behalf of this Union work may be addressed 
to THE WoMAN’s UNION MISSIONARY SOCIETY, 41 Bible House, N. Y. 


